Linzer Cookies

Linzer cookies 2

You won’t find a more tender, melt in your mouth confection than the Linzer. So delicate and sweet, I especially enjoy making these buttery little beauties for Valentine’s Day.

Linzer Cookies

Ingredients (makes 10-12 cookies)

1 cup Butter

2 cups sifted Cake Flour

1 teaspoon orange extract or orange liqueur

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Raspberry, strawberry or cherry jam

Linzer cookie cutters

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, mix butter, orange extract and sugar.  Add in 1 cup of flour at a time, mixing well. Remove dough from mixing bowl, shape into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill the dough at least 2 hours.

Roll out 1/2 of the dough on a floured board to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out the bottom cookie using the linzer cutter without the insert. Roll out the remaining  dough and cut the cookie tops with the Linzer cutter with insert.

Bake cookies for 12 minutes. Cool completely. Generously dust tops with powdered sugar. Spread about 2 teaspoons jam on each cookie bottom. Place cookie tops over bottom cookies to create a sandwich cookie. Store in a single layer in covered container.

If you don’t have a linzer cookie cutter you could use a 2 inch fluted cookie cutter and a 3/4 inch cookie cutter to cut out the center of the top cookie.

Linzer 2

Lemon Meltaways

Lemon Meltaways 1

You’d better make a double batch because these tender, melt-in-your-mouth morsels will be gone before you can pack them away. Light, lemony and luscious, these little shortbread bites are rolled in powdered sugar while still warm from the oven.

Lemon Meltaways
Southern Living February 2014

3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a medium mixing bowl, mix together flour cornstarch and salt. Set aside.

Using a heavy-duty stand mixer, beat butter at medium speed until creamy. Add in 1/2 cup powdered sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy. Mix in zest and juice. Slowly add in flour mixture at low speed just until combined. Cover and chill one hour.

Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.

Bake for 13-15 minutes or until lightly browned around edges.
Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes; be sure cookies are firm then roll in remaining 1 cup powdered sugar. Cool completely on a wire rack before storing.

Lemon Meltaways 2